Snap-on milk can cover



SepL 2.2, 19.31;v

P. s. WINDy 1,824,318

SNAP-ON MILK CAN COVER Filed July l. 1929 iNvENToR n S Mba.

ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 22, 1931 UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE SNAP-ON MILK CAN COVER Application led July 1, 1929. Serial No. 374,990.

The invention relates to devices for application to sealed milk cans such as those containing condensed or evaporated milk and it has for its object to provide a device whlch li may be stamped from sheet metal, the parts of which may be readily assembled and which will be inexpensive to manufacture and will readily serve its intended purpose.

Further, the invention has for an obJect the provision of a device which will not only function as a cover but will also serve as a can puncturing and valve device and as a pouring spout.

Further, it is an object to provide a device which, by the simple act of applying it to the can, causes the can to be punctured to provide a pouring aperture and a vent, the pouring aperture being at the same time provided with a valve and a seal to prevent leakage of the contents of the can.

. Further, it is an object of the invention to provide means whereby cans of condensed or evaporated milk may be opened and if the entire contents are not used at once the contents may be kept free from insects and foreign matter and thus preserve for a longer period than is now generally met with in practice.

Other objects will in part be obvious and in part be pointed out hereinafter.

To the attainment of the aforesaid objects and ends, my invention consists in the novel features of construction and in the combina,- tion, connection and arrangement of parts,

35. hereinafter more fully described, and then.

pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device in use with the combined can puncturing and valve member in the open position.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the device in the closed position.

Figure 3 is a vertical longitudinal section on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a cross section on the line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the base member per se.

Figure 6 is an inverted perspective view of the combined can puncturing and valve member. i

In the drawings in which like numerals of reference indicate like parts in all of the figures, lrepres'ents a milk can such as is usually employed to contain evaporated or condensed milk. In these cans the milk is sealed and when it is desired todispensethe same it'is necessary to puncture the top of the can usually in two places, one of which is used as a pouring aperture and the other as a vent.

In carrying out my invention I provide a device to fit on the top 2 of the can and this device consists of a base 3 having aflange 4 at one end to overlie the edge of the can and the flange is provided with prongs 5 to engage the can beneath the rim of the same. The other end of the plate 3 is provided with clasping fingers 6 which grip the can in cooperation with the Hange 4 and prongs 5 and retain the plate 3 in contact with 'the topgof the can.

etween the fingers 6 is located a pouring spout 7. The flange 4 prongs 5, fingers 6 and spout 7 together with hinge ears 8, are stamped from the metal of the base 3 in the preferred embodiment of my invention.

9 designates the pouring hole of the base 3 which is depresscdor indented as at 11 and receives a gasket 10 of rubber or any other suitable packing material which serves v to seal the plate 3 t'o the can top 2 around the pouring aperture against leakage 'of the contents of the can, the contents of the can then passing through the ouring hole 9 when such hole is unobstructed).

12 is a vent hole formed in the plate 3, the vent hole 12, the pouring hole 9, and the spout 7 being in alignment in the longitudinal direction ofthe plate 3.

13 designates a combined can puncturing and valve member. This member includes a flat lip 14 which is adapted to overlie the holes 9 and 12 in contact with the plate 3 and which carries combined can top puncturing and valve elements 17, one for each hole 9 and 12. These elements 17 are of such length that they will pass through the holes in the plate 3 and through the top 2 of the can.

They have their back faces flat as at 18 while the remaining portion is somewhat conical and terminates in V-shaped points 19 that cut through the metal of the top 2 of the can when the device is being pressed into place.

The combined can puncturing and valve member 13 also is provided with hinge ears 16 to cooperate with the ears 8 of the member 3 and With a vhinge pin 20 and spring 21, the latter continuously tending to keep the lip 14 in contact with the plate 3 and the members 17 in the holes 9 and 12 respectively. Thus the member 13 closes automatically when released. The member 13 also includes a finger piece 15 serving as a handle by which that member may be moved on its hinge to withdraw the elements 17 from the holes 9 and 12 when it is desired to pour the contents of the can.

In the practical application of my invention the device is simply pressed into position on the can top with the thumb pressing down on the lip 14. This aty once causes the elements 17 to puncture the can top and cause the elements 4, 5 and 6 to snap over the edge of the can and hold the4 device thereon with retaining friction. When it is desired to pour the contents of the can it is only necessary to grip the can in one hand with a finger in the finger piece 15, press that finger piece down alongside of the can in contact with the body of the can, see Fig. 1, when the contents of the can will fiow out of opening 9 into spout 7 and be delivered where desired, air, of course, entering the opening 12 to replace the contents of the can.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it is thought the complete construction, operation and advantages of my invention will be clear to those skilled in the art to which it relates.

What I claim is:

1. A device of the character described comprising a base plate, a. flange at one end of said base plate, clamping fingers at the other end of said base plate, said base plate having a pouring hole and a vent hole, hinge ears at one side of said plate and a combined can cover puncturing and valve member cooperating with said plate and having hinge ears hingedly connected to the hinge ears of said base plate, said combined member including a flat lip adapted to overlie said holes and having a pair of combined can puncturing and valve elements cooperating with said holes, and a spring continuously tending to hold said lip against said plate.

2. A device of the character described comprising a base platehaving a pouring spout at one end, a flange at one end of said base plate, clamping fingers at the other end of said base plate, said base plate having a pouring hole and a vent hole in alignment With said spout, hinge ears at one sidey of said plate and a combined can cover puncturmg and valve member cooperating with said plate and having hinge ears hingedly connected to the hin e ears of said base plate, said combined mem er including a flat lip adapted to overlie said holes and having a pair of combined can puncturing and valve elements cooperating With said holes, and a spring continuously tending to hold said lip against said plate.

8. A device of the character described comprising a base plate, a fiange at one end of said base plate, clamping fingers at the other end of said base plate, said base plate having a pouring hole and a Vent hole, hinge ears at one side of said plate and a combined can cover puncturing and valve member cooperating With said plate and having hinge ears hingedly connected to the hinge ears of said base plate, said combined member including a fiat lip adapted to overlie said holes and having a pair of combined can puncturing and valve elementscooperating With said holes, a spring continuously tending to hold said lip against said plate, and means to seal said plate to the can' at said pouring hole.

4. A snap-on can cover comprising a base plate havingdepending grippers to hold said plate on top of a can, said plate having a pouring hole and a vent hole, combined with a member consisting of a plate having a. lip and a finger engageable handle portion, hingedly associated with said base plate, said lip being adapted to overlie said pouring and vent holes, combined can-top-puncturing and valve elements vsecured to said lip to project into said holes, said combined elements being pointed and of a length to penetrate the top of the can When said lip lies against said base plate.

5. A snap-on can cover comprising a base plate having depending grippers to hold said plate on top of a can, said plate having a pouring hole and a vent hole and hinge ears, combined with a member consisting of la plate having hinge ears, a lip and a finger engageable handle portion means hinging said ears together, said lip being adapted to overlie said pouring and vent holes, combined can-top-puncturing and valve elements secured to said lip to project into said holes, said combined elements being pointed and of a length to penetrate the top of the can when said lip lies against said base plate, and a sealing gasket in said pouring hole for the purposes described.

PETER SMITH WIND. 

